ScottishPower’s transmission business SP Energy Networks has commenced its five year £12bn rewiring programme of the central and southern Scotland electricity grid.
Aiming to create 1,400 and support more than 11,000 jobs in the supply chain, the T3 investment will see 12 new major substations built and over 570km of lines upgraded or replaced.
The network overhaul will help increase grid capacity, strengthen Britain’s energy security, reduce constraint costs and help homes and businesses across the country move towards an all-electric future, it said.
UK and Irish supply chain companies are benefiting from the rewiring programme, it said, with an example of Kirby Group Engineering, headquartered in Limerick, working with SP Energy Networks for the last 13 years. It has now secured a place on its strategic framework which will see it and 18 other suppliers benefit from up to £5.4bn in contracts over the next 10 years.
It has opened two offices in Scotland and has even moved to a bigger Glasgow office to house its expanding workforce on account of securing its order book. It now employs 180 people, with 70 extra jobs already created and plans of more to come, thanks to the scale of investment.
Its apprenticeship programme has also seen a boost, with an additional three apprentices joining the Scottish team in 2026. In 2025 alone, Kirby had 10,000 apprentice hours dedicated to SP Energy Networks projects, almost three times 2023 levels and it’s set to grow again in 2026.
Nicola Connelly, CEO of SP Energy Networks, said:
“The next five years are pivotal to achieving Britain’s clean power ambitions. Our electricity networks are the backbone of the country’s electricity system, getting the power from where it’s generated to homes and businesses across the country.
“Between now and 2031 we are undertaking the biggest overhaul of the electricity grid since its inception, with tens of thousands of people helping transform and modernise aging infrastructure.”
Michael Murray, Power & Renewables Director, Kirby Group Engineering, said:
“Through our strategic partnership with SP Energy Networks, we are expanding our operations, creating employment opportunities and scaling our training and development programmes.
“The delivery of this critical infrastructure upgrade is already creating high‑quality, skilled jobs and will leave a legacy of social value in communities across Scotland.”
Image of Nicola Connelly courtesy of SP Energy Networks
